DOUG JAMES TAYLOR

ROLE PURPOSE

To act on behalf of the Crown Attorney by:
➟ Performing legal administrative duties in support of the case management practices.
➟ Act on behalf of the Crown Attorney and/or Assistant Crown Attorney as liaison between the Crown Attorney's office and accused, defence counsel, police, victims and witnesses, the judicial offices and justice related agencies.
➟ Assist with the development, coordination and implementation of policies and procedures in support of the case management function in the Crown Attorney's office.

OVERALL RESPONSIBILITIES

Perform legal and administrative duties in support of screening, disclosure and other case management practices in the Crown Attorney's office.
Liaise with accused, defence counsel, police, victims, witnesses, judiciary and justice related agencies.
Arrange issue resolution meetings.
Assess trial readiness.
Conduct research and co-ordinate special projects.
Assist with the development and implementation of policies and procedures in support of the Case Management function.
Ensure prosecution files are maintained and relevant actions recorded.

MATTER MANAGEMENT

Under the supervision of the Crown Attorney and/or designate, review by screening incoming criminal and youth prosecution briefs and prepare a screening form for the consideration and approval of the Crown Attorney and/or designate considering:
➟ Completeness of brief.
➟ Completeness of evidence.
➟ Suitability for diversion.
➟ Further action as required.
➟ Identify case complex or serious nature for crown assignment purposes.
Coordinate and assist in the provision of disclosure to defence counsel and accused by reviewing prosecution briefs to:
➟ Ensure and assess completeness of brief and provide disclosure accordingly.
➟ Determine portions of the brief that cannot be disclosed, and direct those matters to the prosecutors for appropriate action.
➟ Ensure appropriate records of disclosure are maintained.
➟
Communicate with victims and witnesses to ensure up-to-date information is maintained with respect to their needs, injuries, and damages, etc.
➟ Consult with victims and witnesses about suitability for diversion, and proposed dispositions.
➟ Refer victims and witnesses, when appropriate, to the victim-witness coordinator or prosecutor.
Initiate, draft and administer oaths to witnesses and victims in respect of Affidavits in support of the prosecution such as Affidavits attesting to the facts of the case which may eliminate the need for their attendances as witnesses at trial.
Ensure that the Affidavits are disclosed to defence counsel and that the notices required to introduce the documentary evidence are prepared and served upon the defence.
Communicate with defence counsel, in writing, by telephone, and in person, to provide information, provide follow-up disclosure, to inquire about admission of non-contentious evidence, etc.
Arrange issue resolution discussions and relate proposals to and from defence counsel to prosecutors.
Conduct ongoing written and oral communication and follow-up with the police with respect to charge, evidence and brief deficiencies, and to update the police regarding issues and disposition proposals.
Assess trial readiness by reviewing files to ensure that file is complete and that subpoenas have been prepared and served on essential witnesses; ensure that witnesses who are not required are called off; advise prosecutors of essential witnesses unavailability so that defence counsel and Court can be notified and the trial time rescheduled.
Conduct research, as required.
Ensure that prosecution files are maintained and records of all decisions, actions and follow-up are recorded, and that there is continuity of case administration and communications.
Contribute to the formulation of procedures and policy and procedures in relation to effective and timely case management of criminal and quasi-criminal prosecutions and related programmes; and assist with the development of manuals and other reference materials.
Monitor case management systems and procedures to identify deficiencies and potential problems; recommend and assist in the implementation of improved case management practices.
Coordinate and research special projects in support of the case management function.

Legal Administrative Secretary (LAS)

Ontario Ministry of the Attorney GeneralToronto, ON

Toronto Crown Attorneys Office, Criminal Law Division

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

HIGHLIGHT OF MAJOR SERVICES

2020 - 2022

Freelance Writing / Business Consulting

Self EmployedOshawa, ON

2020

Litigation Paralegal

Total Credit Recovery Ltd.Toronto, ON

2019

Workers Compensation Coordinator(Contract)

Morneau ShepellToronto, ON

Workers Compensation Practice, Absence Management Solutions, Occupational Claim Prevention and Management Department

2018

Legal Coordinator(Contract)

Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario (CPA Ontario)Toronto, ON

Office of the General Counsel (OGC)

2017

Publication Coordinator and Hearings Clerk(Temporary)

Law Society Tribunal (LST)Toronto, ON

2016 - 2017

Support Services Specialist Paralegal(Contract)

Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal (WSIAT)Toronto, ON

Office of the Vice-Chair Registrar

Collaborate and liaise with other Tribunal departments to respond to enquiries and process requests by providing electronic records management services to the Tribunal for case/file transfers, following the Tribunal's policies and procedures and best practice guidelines with respect to Record Information Management.
Manage the entire electronic lifespan of a high volume of daily documents for Tribunal case file appeals, using an internal database.
Screen, review and sort all incoming matters; identify, prioritize, resolve and promptly redistribute and electronically track urgent matters for timely completion.
Assemble preliminary case file materials with attention to accuracy and completeness; provide administrative support, reproduction and printing services to the Tribunal and other assigned agencies.
Provide administrative and initial technical support to Tribunal Vice-Chairs and other assigned agencies, by preparing and organizing rooms in advance of scheduled hearings.
Provide reproduction and printing services to the Tribunal and other assigned Agencies.
Coordinate with the scheduling department to address unexpected changes in attendance numbers, room assignments and other hearing or meeting issues; quickly troubleshoot and resolve using tact and diplomacy to minimize delays and ensure a positive client experience.
Maintain fulfillment requirements reports, prepare and submit benchmark statistics and provide database reports as required by the department management team.
Analyze and review documents for relevance and maintain a bring-forward system and diarizing dockets for scheduled hearings.
Open new appeal numbers and input data into traclT in response to incoming mail or faxes.
Close appeals in accordance with the Tribunal's RIM policies and procedures.
Trace files movement through traclT data, upon request.
Process incoming Board files adding and attaching information in traclT.
Process WSIB document request tasks.
Monitor and keep updated Records Action item list in traclT.
Identify and correct privacy breaches in Tribunal documents and official records.
Prepare documents in response to FIPPA requests.
Liaise with other Tribunal departments as required.

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2015

Student Paralegal(Field Placement)

Royal Bank of Canada (RBC)Toronto, ON

Global Functions Law Group, General Counsel

Assist and provide support to the RBC Law Group’s Global Dispute Management Team, Corporate Secretarial, Subsidiary Governance and Corporate Archival services in the daily and orderly provision of drafting, preparing and typing correspondence and various legal forms, photocopying and binding materials and updating and maintaining client matters.
Triage all inquiries and preliminary escalation matters from clients, the public, government agencies, Executive Offices, internal branches and departments and, determine appropriate action to satisfy requests within the policies, procedures and guidelines.
Provide initial enterprise, legal and regulatory counsel and superior customer service in support all businesses, products, and initiatives from the RBC network of branches and related executive offices, including dealing with, and responding to, executive and client inquiries, while ensuring requests are responded to in a complete, accurate, professional, efficient and timely manner.
Manage disputes affecting the enterprise; provide support to enterprise level activities, including Bank Act issues, enterprise compliance, M and A, corporate governance, IP and procurement support.
Mitigate legal and reputational risks to RBC specialized service centres including, Customer Care Centre, Expert Advice Centre, Third Party Demand group, Corporate Investigation Services (CIS), Special Loans and Advisory Services (SLAS), Collections and others.
Deliver clear, concise and articulate verbal and written communication to effectively respond to and transmit information to clients, staff, licensees, business partners, and other stakeholders in a non-threatening and constructive way, while striving for mutually agreeable outcomes.
Review and assess risk factors in all incoming documents, prioritize and redistribute matters when necessary.
Cover vacation absences including Law Branch Administrator role.
Conduct research, assess, develop and deliver recommendations and partner with business and functional partners to mitigate litigation risk and to promote efficiencies in the manner in which litigation and escalations are effectively managed.

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HIGHLIGHT OF MAJOR SERVICES

1997 - Current

Owner / Operator

DJT Design StudiosOshawa, ON

2013 - Current

Founder/Owner, Administrator and Content Curator

Law in the News (LITN)Oshawa, ON

ABOUT Law in the News (LITN)

2021

Customer Onboarding Specialist

Clio - Cloud-based Legal Technology, Themis Solutions Inc.Remote, ON

Customer Enablement Team

2012 - 2016

Print Support Specialist / Client Support Agent(Work-Study Program)

Humber College Institute of Advanced LearningToronto Lakeshore Campus, ON

Information Technology Services (ITS)

2010 - 2011

Financial Services Representative(Contract)

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC)Port Colborne/Dunnville, ON

Retail and Business Banking

2007 - 2010

Licensed Financial Advisor

Edward Jones Investments CanadaBrampton/Port Dover, ON

2000 - 2006

Unit Manager

Bank of Montreal (BMO)Etobicoke, ON

Enterprise Risk and Portfolio Management (ERPM)

2020 - 2021

E-Learning CPD Instructor(Freelance)

LearnFormula.comRemote

2019

Workers Compensation Coordinator(Contract)

Morneau ShepellToronto, ON

Workers Compensation Practice, Absence Management Solutions, Occupational Claim Prevention and Management Department